CENTER HOME CEE by AASHTO Home | Compendium Home | Online Compendium Help | Recent Updates | Inquiries | FAQs | State

DOT Links About Best Practices | Comment on Best Practices | Suggest A Best Practice | Volunteer to Vet Best Print This Page Practices Back to Chapter 9 | Go to Chapter 11 Chapter 10 Roadside Management and Maintenance: Beyond Vegetation 10.18. Maintenance of Soils Table of Contents
Search Entire Compendium Select Chapters Go

Maintenance activities can greatly affect soil structure in a positive or negative way. A solid plant cover is the best defense against erosion and invasive species. Routine maintenance activities can help build the soil to support vigorous plant growth.[N] Plants suffer from nutrient deficiencies in the soil. Contact the Landscape Architect for recommendations before amending soil. The Landscape Architect can provide information on appropriate fertilizers or soil amendments. Allow organic matter to remain on the ground where it will not jeopardize safety or visual quality. Logs and brushpiles enrich the soil and provide habitat while decomposing. Such decomposition can reduce the need for additional fertilization or soil amendments and reduce maintenance expenditures. Fresh wood chips can use up available nitrogen and affect plant growth. To avoid this problem, spread wood chips thinly over a large area or add nitrogen to aid in decomposition. Avoid driving vehicles or operating equipment on saturated soil and in vegetated areas. Reseed, cover, or mulch bare soils as soon as possible when they have been exposed by maintenance activities or errant vehicles . With regard to control of soil tracked by equipment onto pavement or other inappropriate areas: Substantially visible sediment should be swept or vacuumed from the maintenance activity site. If not mixed with debris or trash, consider incorporating the removed sediment back into the maintenance activity site. Washing and rinsing of equipment should be performed in designated areas and the resulting runoff shall not be discharged to the storm drain system. < back to top > Continue to Section 10.19

Chapter 10 Roadside Management and Maintenance: Beyond Vegetation 10.1 Environmental Enhancement Practices and Partnership Efforts 10.2 Protection of Historic and Other Cultural Resources 10.3 Maintenance in Wetlands 10.4 Maintenance Near Waterbodies 10.5 Maintenance of Structures for Wildlife 10.6 Maintenance of Stormwater Facilities 10.7 Maintenance of Roadside Public Facilities 10.8 Management of Portable Sanitary/Septic Waste Systems 10.9 Maintenance of Shoulders and Roadway Appurtenances 10.10 Sweeping and Vacuuming of Roads, Decks, Water Quality Facilities, and Bridge Scuppers 10.11 Maintenance Stewardship Practices for Slopes, Drainage Ditches, Swales, and Diversions 10.12 Erosion and Sediment Control in Maintenance 10.13 Recycling in Roadside Maintenance Operations 10.14 Preserving Air Quality in Maintenance and Operations 10.15 Painting Operation Stormwater BMPs 10.16 Road Waste Management 10.17 Stockpiling, Spoil Disposal or

10.17 Stockpiling, Spoil Disposal or Placement of Inert Fill 10.18 Maintenance of Soils 10.19 Emergency Actions 10.20 Field Review of Roadside Maintenance Operations Lists: Examples | Tables | Figures Report content errors and/or website problems Download Adobe Acrobat Reader

Compendium Home | Online Compendium Help | Revision History | Inquiries | FAQs Copyright 2009, Center for Environmental Excellence by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)